The University of Akron Athletics
University of Akron
Youngstown State
Baseball Defeated by Youngstown State, 8-4
March 27 | Baseball
NILES, Ohio – The University of Akron baseball team was handed an 8-4 loss by Youngstown State at Eastwood Field Tuesday in the first leg of this week's home-and-home series.
Tyler Begun and Brady Stewart had three hits each for Akron (8-15). Matt Gebacz (0-3) took the loss on the mound, despite producing a good effort. The freshman lefty gave up just two runs on three hits in 5.0 innings.
"After a shaky start, Matt Gebacz really settled in and pitched well. He got hurt a bit when he got behind in the count, but had a pretty good performance," first-year Akron coach Rick Rembielak said.
Marcus Heath had the lone multi-hit effort for Youngstown State (3-19). Ryan Krokos (2-1) went 5.0 scoreless innings to grab the win for the Penguins.
Drew Dosch had the Penguins up 2-0 with his first-inning home run to right field. The shot plated David Leon who drew a lead-off walk.
"Gebacz really settled in after giving up the home run in the first. That was a good sign from him," Rembielak said.
Akron failed to cut into the YSU lead despite having the first two aboard in the fourth. Begun was hit by a pitch and moved to third on a Brady Stewart base hit to right field. Begun was then caught in a rundown trying to score on Dan Burant's chopper to first and Bryan White hit into an inning-ending double play to spoil the opportunity.
The Zips would cut the deficit in half in the top of the sixth, but failed to capitalize on having the bases loaded with just one out. Joey Havrilak drew a lead-off walk and moved to second when shortstop Padraic Williams dropped a Samuel Trecaso fielder's choice. Havrilak then moved to third on a Begun fielder's choice and scored on Stewart's single to left center. Dan Burant was then hit by a pitch to load the bags, but White's fly ball to center was too shallow to bring Begun home and Darius Washington struck out to end the inning.
YSU would break the game open with five runs in the bottom of the sixth as the UA bullpen struggled to find the strike zone. Freshman Jason McPeek walked three and hit one, giving up a bases-loaded RBI groundout to Kevin Hix and hitting Jack Graham with the bags loaded. Redshirt freshman Andrew Fanning then issued a bases-loaded walk to David Leon and Jason Shirley capped the inning with a two-run single.
Jared Turocy drove in pinch runner Devan Ahart with a two-out single in the eighth. Ahart was running for Burant, who reached on an infield single. UA would add two more runs in the ninth, stringing together three singles to load the bases. Ahart then drew a walk and White followed with a sacrifice fly to right.
"Our bullpen did not follow up a good effort from Matt (Gebacz) today and we were stagnant on offense," Rembielak said.
The Zips and Penguins finish the midweek set Wednesday at Canal Park. First pitch is at 3 p.m.
